Happy Friday!
The rain has been relentless lately. Interestingly, as I looked back at past editions of Mosaics, I noticed that five years ago, we also had a downpour of 4 inches that brought the harvest to a standstill—just as it has today.
This week, I've been reading in Jeremiah, who’s often called the weeping prophet. His writings are full of lament and sorrow over the destruction and suffering that awaited Judah. Like the rain that drenches the earth, his grief poured out as he witnessed the coming Babylonian invasion.
In many ways, I felt that same kind of lament this week as I reflected on the lives and stories of those around me. The despair and hopelessness that pervades feels like a steady downpour, soaking deep into our souls. The world is not as it should be, and so I brought the weight of living in a broken world to the Lord Jesus.
These moments of grief are necessary. Sometimes I wonder if I grieve enough. Yet even in the heaviest rain, there is the light of hope—because those who walked in darkness have seen a great Light. The Light of the world has come, and He will come again to make all things new and right.
So when I see hope slip away in the lives of others, I remind myself to hold on to it, like an anchor in the storm.
Grace & Peace,
Amber
Content: This Week…
In Articles (curated content just for you)
Five Things
1 By the grace of God, I can do hard things
This is a lesson we're working on as a family. We all have tasks that aren't enjoyable and that we may not see an immediate reward for, yet still have to do. You know, like brushing your teeth or taking out the garbage. Even cleaning up after ourselves. It's tough to say no to the things we want to do and do what needs to be done. It's getting a little old, but the mantra is helpful, even for me.
2 Lament
After a particularly heavy week, I just let the tears fall during worship on Sunday. Things are not as they should be. Stories of suffering and hardship, injustice and dire hopelessness. It's the gift of my work to hold people and their stories with tenderness and compassion, to be presence of light and hope in the darkness. Then keep my gaze steadily fixed on the Lord Jesus and how one day he will make everything right again.
3 A Cruise for Hope
We had a lot of fun hosting a car cruise for the counselling nonprofit that I work for. It was a joy to see familiar faces and some really cool cars in support of the work we do in helping others.
4 Missional Mindset
I'm at the end of Isaiah and often we don't necessarily consider the Old Testament to be particularly missional. But we see in chapter 66 that when the Lord restores the new Jerusalem, he will send out his people to those "that have not heard my fame or seen my glory and they shall declare my glory among the nations" (Is. 66:19). The glory of God among the nations has always been his goal, and though we struggle to see it, even in our own world, we can have faith that he is working out his purposes through his church to see his name made great.
5 Soggy Soccer
Just gonna say, after inches of rain, and then another sprinkle, the sneakers, socks and pants my kiddos came home with after soccer could've filled an ice cream pail of water!
On the Blog
1 This week I shared my book reel of the month!
2 A reflection on lessons I learned from a missionary to the Congo, on perseverance and faith!
On my Shelf
I finished the last book in the Hidden Mage series recommended from Lindsay at Books for Christian Girls. This series is a more young-adult feel fantasy, written from one point of view. I thought the plot was really interesting and the politics kept the plot moving. But I'd say I should've probably read her other series first, it might've made a little more sense then.
I also picked up Gather, on the topic of Christian community and I really need to get through at least one on policy governance for board leadership
In Articles
Five Lessons in Learning Lament | Peridot Reed
This was just a fitting article for me this week. I was a little struck by the remembrance that lament is a partnership. It's a connection with the one giving the lament, and the one receiving it. So when we lament, we may seem alone, but in truth God is with us.
Exercise an Idle Mind | Kelly Needham (Revive our Hearts)
Here you'll find helpful advice when you notice your mind spinning in idle moments. I like what she says here, "But an idle, purposeless thought life creates a downward spiral of self-focused thoughts and fantasies about problems that aren’t yet in existence." If you're like most of us, you'll notice this the most at bedtime. So grab these tips!
What Kind of Legacy Do You Want to Leave? | Aaron Hall
I think as parents this question easily comes up. It's a healthy reflection to consider. Here Aaron shares a few biblical points to consider.
The Complexity of Calling | Nicholas MacDonald
When you think of calling, what comes to mind? This ties in with considering our legacy. He writes, "if calling is meant to be about our identity in Christ first, our stewardship of our situation second, and our participation in God’s mission ultimately, then I think a lot of the mystique surrounding calling tends to disappear."
Previously on Mosaic
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